>> Friday, June 3, 2016

EDITORIAL

The
Commission on Elections is intent in postponing the barangay and
SangguniangKabataan elections set in October, but according to senators,
this would need the imprimatur of the incoming 17th
Congress.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara separately
reminded the Colelec that the move to reset the polls needs legislation.

While there were postponements of the barangay elections in the past, Angara
said the decision rests with Congress and the President.“In past years there
have been postponements of barangay elections immediately after national
elections so postponement is a possibility but, of course, it all depends on
the incoming legislators and also the president,” Angara said.

Angara said the reason for postponement should be reviewed by the
concerned agencies.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III, for his part, said he sees no problem if the
barangay polls are postponed.On the other hand, Sen. Ralph Recto said the
Comelec should prepare for the October elections unless Congress rules
otherwise.

“The job of Comelec is to hold elections as provided by the law. Only
Congress can decide to postpone elections,” he added.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the October polls should be reset
since the general elections have just been conducted.

“We will suggest that maybe it would be better if we postpone that,” he
said.

“We may be discussing this with the new chairman of the House committee
on electoral reforms and the Senate counterpart.”

The Comelec is also considering consulting incoming president Rodrigo
Duterte about the matter.Bautista said interest in the barangay and SK polls is
historically low despite the huge costs of holding the twin elections.

The SK had been a source of corruption and political patronage in the
past and calls to have it abolished this to this had gone to naught. The issue
of whether the SK should be abolished or not could be discussed by the next
Congress.